BEAUFORT: The endangered Proboscis monkey has now joined the ranks of its popular cousin the Orang Utan as another tourism asset for Sabah.
Known locally as the orang belanda, the bizarre looking primate is now enjoying `celebrity’ status with tourists as far as Australia, Japan, Taiwan, China and Europe flocking to take a closer look.
The Proboscis was initially thought to be confined to the mangrove forests in Sukau, Sandakan. It was feared that they are in the verge of extinction with only about 3,000 remaining. However, of late they were also found in the Klias Wetland some 120km from Kota Kinabalu.
The discovery led to a sudden surge in ecotourism activities in the Klias Wetland located in the Beaufort district. After all Klias is just a two-hour drive from Kota Kinabalu and tourists no longer have to go as far as Sukau in Sandakan to watch them.
It now appears that the popularity of the Klias Proboscis has gradually surpassed that of the Orang Utan in Sepilok, Sandakan.
The Proboscis was initially thought to be confined to the mangrove forests in Sukau, Sandakan. It was feared that they are in the verge of extinction with only about 3,000 remaining. However, of late they were also found in the Klias Wetland some 120km from Kota Kinabalu.
The discovery led to a sudden surge in ecotourism activities in the Klias Wetland located in the Beaufort district. After all Klias is just a two-hour drive from Kota Kinabalu and tourists no longer have to go as far as Sukau in Sandakan to watch them.
It now appears that the popularity of the Klias Proboscis has gradually surpassed that of the Orang Utan in Sepilok, Sandakan.
Continue reading (incl. photos) at: Bizzare Proboscis monkeys an asset for Sabah
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